On Jan. 23, 1903, a Paterson firefighter, Felix McCann of Truck 2, was injured by a falling chimney at a fire at River Lawn Sanitarium, a psychiatric hospital."Both arms are broken and his skull is fractured," The New York Times reported. Three other firefighters were also hurt.
The sanitarium's 30 patients were evacuated from the three-story brick brick and frame structure, and "some of the more recently admitted had to be carried out," according to the newspaper.
An oil stove used for heating "burst or was upset," the Times said.
